Replace garage roof

matthangzhou

Hi everyone I'm a new first time home owner and looking for some advice!

Our garage roof is leaking (we knew before purchase) and are looking for a replacement.

It's a felt flat roof at the moment. We have had two quotes the first was for £2100 to install OSB decking and a GRP deck. They would take the old roof, blow torch the timber and install the new one. We also need a new access door and side window which was quoted at £800.

The second company advised the timber was not rotted and very thick so would dry naturally. They quoted £1500 for an EPDM rubber roof and £600 for the new door and window.

Obviously a big difference in price and technique but both seem quite expensive. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. We are based in Greater manchester.

maninthestreet

Are these quotes or just estimates? If the former, are they in writing?
If you go with the cheaper 'quote', don't be surprised if they 'discover' the OSB has rotted in places, so must be replaced, increasing the price you have to pay......

matthangzhou

maninthestreet wrote: »

Are these quotes or just estimates? If the former, are they in writing?
If you go with the cheaper 'quote', don't be surprised if they 'discover' the OSB has rotted in places, so must be replaced, increasing the price you have to pay......

Yes they are both printed quotes.

McKneff

Are you 100% sure you need a new roof.


We suffered ours leaking for years, at least half a dozen buckets all over the garage catching the drips.


We bought some 'rubber paint' and it solved the leaking problem instantly.


I believe we bought ours from B&Q

TheCyclingProgrammer

I have replaced a flat roof myself before using EPDM. If you're DIY minded, a garage roof is probably not a difficult job if you've got the right tools.

I vaguely remember materials came to about £230 for the EPDM and related kit, plus the replacement exterior grade OSB boards which wasn't expensive. Probably didn't spend more than £300 in total. This was for a kitchen extension roof, about 2x3m, so about half the size of a single garage.

It took me with some help from a friend about 3 days to strip off the old felt roof covering, rotten chipboard sheets, clean up, add some insulation to the roof, re-board and lay the EPDM. I'd expect a professional 2 man team to be able to do this in a day, day and a half at most to be honest. I have no idea what the going day rates for roofers up your way is but if you assume materials are about £500 then £1000 seems high for labour costs to me.

You don't say how big the garage is - if its a big double garage then obviously materials will be more and it will take longer.

If you fancy the DIY approach, the hardest bit for me was cutting the OSB boards to size with only a handsaw so if you have an appropriate power tool this will be a lot easier. Laying the EPDM was easy - make sure all nails/screws are in properly, clear all debris, paint on epoxy/glue, lay the sheet carefully avoiding air bubbles then do the edging.

EDIT: you might have more response if this was in the "In My Home" forum - maybe a mod can move it.

matthangzhou

TheCyclingProgrammer wrote: »

I have replaced a flat roof myself before using EPDM. If you're DIY minded, a garage roof is probably not a difficult job if you've got the right tools.

I vaguely remember materials came to about £230 for the EPDM and related kit, plus the replacement exterior grade OSB boards which wasn't expensive. Probably didn't spend more than £300 in total. This was for a kitchen extension roof, about 2x3m, so about half the size of a single garage.

It took me with some help from a friend about 3 days to strip off the old felt roof covering, rotten chipboard sheets, clean up, add some insulation to the roof, re-board and lay the EPDM. I'd expect a professional 2 man team to be able to do this in a day, day and a half at most to be honest. I have no idea what the going day rates for roofers up your way is but if you assume materials are about £500 then £1000 seems high for labour costs to me.

You don't say how big the garage is - if its a big double garage then obviously materials will be more and it will take longer.

If you fancy the DIY approach, the hardest bit for me was cutting the OSB boards to size with only a handsaw so if you have an appropriate power tool this will be a lot easier. Laying the EPDM was easy - make sure all nails/screws are in properly, clear all debris, paint on epoxy/glue, lay the sheet carefully avoiding air bubbles then do the edging.

EDIT: you might have more response if this was in the "In My Home" forum - maybe a mod can move it.

Thanks for this. Wasn't sure where to post. Did have a look and saw some home improvement style questions in here.

I do like a bit of diy so will look into this approach in a bit more detail.

As to the size of the garage I am not sure as I havent measured. It is a single garage approximately 2m by 4m

matthangzhou

My wife disagrees haha. We will go with 6m x 3m haha

matthangzhou

McKneff wrote: »

Are you 100% sure you need a new roof.


We suffered ours leaking for years, at least half a dozen buckets all over the garage catching the drips.


We bought some 'rubber paint' and it solved the leaking problem instantly.


I believe we bought ours from B&Q

I'd say it definitely needs a new one as it sagging very visibly in several places